Fenix... That Good?

[Marion David Poff]

Howdy,

I have been kinda researching the Fenix products, and I am wondering if they are as good as the numbers seem to suggest?

My buddy was saying that as far as he is concerned, they are a Surefire killer, if the runtimes/lumens are to be believed...

What do you all think?

Marion David Poff

 

[enLIGHTenment]

Runtime and output aren't everything. Fenix lights are non-starters for many applications because they use perverse user interfaces. No Fenix light has a momentary + constant pushbutton switch ('forward clickie' in CPF parlance) and many of them require arcane and lengthy series of switch presses to cycle from off, though all modes, and back to off. The need to cycle through all modes makes momentary extremely awkward, negates the benefit of low level output for preserving night vision and prevents the use of high-intensity bursts for attention getting.

Fenix could be a serious contender (on functionality grounds, at least) to Surefire if they would adopt serious, non-gimmick, UIs for their lights. Until then, however, Surefire will continue to rule the roost at the high end.

 

[funder]

IMHO, Fenix and SF aim at different market, although they do have somewhat overlap.
The build quality of fenix is slightly inferior to surefire's, such as exterior coating, robustness of construction. However, fenix moves so fast, it always use latest technology, this makes fenix has a better performance in brightness/runtime.

For example, the Cree version of Fenix lights have been available about half years ago, while Surefire's cree lights will be available in next month. And in the next month, fenix will introduce Rebel lights and wash out the Cree lights.

Hope this information can make some sense.

 

[nerdgineer]

Yes, they are that good.... An agile and innovative company making well designed flashlights of sophisticated engineering, with first class US based customer support.

 

[TORCH_BOY]

Yes, They are that good, great value for your $$

 

[phypaa]

Ok Felix and Surfire fight again!
They are both good. I am not really a flashlight user, I don't need a flashlight with me at work or around, I just like to collect them.
Felix is less expensive, bright, build quality is good.
Surfire is always a legend. It is expensive, not always at the top tech., great build quality, charming.
I buy both of them.
If you just want to buy one for use, just anything you like or you can afford.
If you are attracted by flashlights, whichever you start with you will get the other and more and more.

 

[Ousanas]

LOVE my fenix Lights. BUT not a SF killer, different animal all together.

Fenix are the benchmade/spydercos of the flashlight world to me. People in the know either love them or hate them, but they are good quality, PERFECT for 99 percent of the world EDC use

SF are the Strider/Emerson's. Expensive, but mostly worth it, THE military/police use equipment, Great for anyone, necessary only by a few.

Maglites are the run of the mill Bucks and whatnot. What the rest of the world sees as THE company to beat. Sooo many people think mags and bucks are IT for knives and flashlights.

I have no SF's, I want SEVERAL, and when I have the funds I'll get one. I have several Fenixes, and will probably get at least 3more before I get a SF. I carry 2 almost all the time, my wife carries one as well. and along with those I carry a spyderco and she carries a benchmade.

 

[carrot]

Yes, they are that good.... An agile and innovative company making well designed flashlights of sophisticated engineering, with first class US based customer support.

nerdgineer pretty much nailed it.

And if they could remove the almost useless strobe and SOS functions from their flashlights... well, in my eyes, they'd be golden.

I would hesitate to call Fenix a Surefire-killer but they are very good at what they do, which is making quality consumer flashlights.

 

[vic2367]

id have too agree with all the fenix lovers out there,,,bright light,long runtimes,,,great value for the money,,,

 

[yellow]

its a difficult topic,
especially as there are different lighting needs and as the ppl, willing to purchase EXPENSIVE lights, are the first to bash in any direction without reflection (and most of them not even on par with the older Luxeon technology)

I like my lights to have at least 2 levels, being small, running long and to work within what I call "flashlight distances" (= anything up to 30-50 meters in the dark). Thats where an actual led kills everything else and especially normal incan flashlights.

Forward/reverse clicky is not a point for me (but I have to say that the SF clickie tailcap is not working the way I expected from a tailcap that costs more than a complete Fenix flashlight)
That Fenix-UI bashing is the best joke ever Imagine how many very satisfied users of Flupic's we have here (I am one of them and regret not having bought more of them). They are way more complex.

BTW: I own several SFs and till, say, last year, there was nothing to beat them. Now I dont use them any more, makes no sense now

Fenix lights are non-starters for many applications because they use perverse user interfaces. No Fenix light has a momentary + constant pushbutton switch ('forward clickie' in CPF parlance) and many of them require arcane and lengthy series of switch presses to cycle from off, though all modes, and back to off. The need to cycle through all modes makes momentary extremely awkward, negates the benefit of low level output for preserving night vision and prevents the use of high-intensity bursts for attention getting.

I have to comment on this:
forward and reverse clickie switch --> light is ON --> push the button --> light is OFF, with both kinds of clickies!
Fenix: high light mode ON/OFF in Turbo mode for the turbo ppl,
You seem not to know that, so You dont own a Fenix, so why do You comment on a comparison of these lights?
Can You compare then?

PS: I happen to very often click the SFs forward clickie into ON accidentially and I havily doubt that in a situation an officer is able to grab the light, support the gun with the 2nd hand and then turning the light on without activating the clicky.
Sure its nice to be able to make a short burst without being forced to click the light off, but most of these times one could also live totally without light, or? And when the light will be used for some time, then both switches have to be clicked on.
That "forward/reverse" talk is for armchair heroes only, imho.

 

[BSCOTT1504]

Fenix lights are very good! But not a Surefire killer..

 

[yellow]

another observation beneath the "clicky" theme:
there is absolutely no useful way to mount a lanyard to most SFs.

one could bash Fenix for their small, sharp holes but at least they offer them.
Both makers: look how Inova perfectly solved that problem!

That garage-shop like metal ring I have for my 6P is just a joke. Didnt use the light for several years and now changed it to a Cree + 18650 (now its perfect!). Unfortunately added the lanyard, too. Had it mounted to my bars during a medium rain and there got enough water inside, that I have water signs at the McR reflector.
Only bad, nothing else.

But surely: that forward clicky dependable officer ( ), has no problem with the light, that has slipped from his hand some minutes before...

 

[MorpheusT1]

I buy Fenix lights just as the next guy does,

Output is great and they can be had for cheap.
Perfect for the consumer market.

But as far as i am concerned Fenix has been standing still in the areas i want them to blossom.

Coating is not good. Not Thick enough HA.
Knurling is lacking-slippery when wet.
Switch..how hard is it to improve on this..momentary on is my favorite feature.
Low..i want a Really low LOW.
Reliability...still to early to say but my Fenixes has held up pretty good.

The output has clearly improved and runtime is great.


But when i go outside i still prefer my Surefires.


Benny

 

[ScooterBug]

i agree on what Benny said. when i go outside or to work it is with a Sirefire. I do have lights from both.

 

[Barbarian]

I buy Fenix lights just as the next guy does,

Output is great and they can be had for cheap.
Perfect for the consumer market.

But as far as i am concerned Fenix has been standing still in the areas i want them to blossom.

Coating is not good. Not Thick enough HA.
Knurling is lacking-slippery when wet.
Switch..how hard is it to improve on this..monentary on is my favorite feature.
Low..i want a Really low LOW.
Reliability...still to early to say but mine has held up pretty good.

The output has clearly improved and runtime is great.


But when i go outside i still prefer my Surefires for the above qualities.


Benny

+1

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

Howdy,

I have been kinda researching the Fenix products, and I am wondering if they are as good as the numbers seem to suggest?

My buddy was saying that as far as he is concerned, they are a Surefire killer, if the runtimes/lumens are to be believed...

What do you all think?

Marion David Poff

As far as numbers go (output/runtime) Fenix is on top of the mountain right now. Their new cree models are both very bright and give great runtime as well. VERY hard to beat in terms of performance.
If the only thing you are looking at is lumens/runtime then yes they are a Surefire killer, but many people love Surefire lights for the build quality and the heft that most of them have. I'm not sure if Surefire is more reliable or not, but they do feel more robust than Fenix lights.
I think it really depends what you are looking for or what you use your lights for. I just want a small pocket sized EDC that will give great output and good runtime. Because of this I mainly use Fenix lights or something similar.

 

[Lee1959]

In my opinion, Fenix lights are decent for the money, good, but not great. Out of all the lights I have had I personally have had more trouble with them than any other brand. I have owned 6 Fenix lights, and had switch problems with 3 of them. The only ones I have not had a problem with are the twisties switches so far.

I have owned a dozen Inovas and never had a single issue, same with Maglights. I have 3 Surefires and never had a problem with any of them. So I would say decent but not great, certainly not Surefire busters by any mean. They are fast to change to new technology which is what makes them so popular here.

Others have had different experiences I am sure, this is just my own.

 

[selfbuilt]

Runtime and output aren't everything. Fenix lights are non-starters for many applications because they use perverse user interfaces. No Fenix light has a momentary + constant pushbutton switch ('forward clickie' in CPF parlance) and many of them require arcane and lengthy series of switch presses to cycle from off, though all modes, and back to off. The need to cycle through all modes makes momentary extremely awkward, negates the benefit of low level output for preserving night vision and prevents the use of high-intensity bursts for attention getting.

Always a touchy subject, since human nature dictates that whenever we pay more for something we need to justify its utility over cheaper options.

I have no problem with honest differences of opinion on the relative merits of one light over another, but the above bolded quote is just not factually accurate. There's no need to cycle through modes on either clicky or twisty version Fenix lights. For clickies, single click always turns light on lowest low or highest hi, depending on how tight the head is twisted on. IMO, Fenix has one of the best UIs for multi-level lights.

 

[BB]

And, very specifically, full click turns light off from any mode (this is still a standard clickie in that full click on then second full click is off--the difference is that with a SureFire clickie is that a partial press turns light on. Fenix, from on, a partial press turns light off)...

So--First full click light is on (either in dim, or turbo--depending on head position). A partial click (reverse clickie function--or a quick full click off then click back on) interrupts the power and when released, the light moves to the next mode (brighter mode or flashing functions).

If the light is off for more than about 2 seconds, the electronics will default to the first mode (dim or turbo) when the power is applied again.

If you send Morse Code by flashlight--a Fenix "D" model is not for you.

-Bill

 

[wrathothebunny]

I'd like to quickly weigh in on the Fenix. I have a P3D and I absolutely love it, but I want to address some of the criticisms out there for this light.

One function often described as "useless" is the SOS function. Well, I like to sea kayak, and being swept out away from shore in a riptide scares the living #@&! out of me. I can definitely see the SOS function coming in handy there. I figure, even if some person on shore sees that light and doesn't know morse code, it should still strike them as some kind of signal light, nonetheless, and hopefully prompt action.

Another criticism targets the reverse clicky operation of the multiple lumen levels. Now, there may be a better way to handle the multilevel output on the Fenix, but in actual use, I actually found switching between levels to be far faster and easier than I had previously expected. I think this is due to the ability to just lightly tap the switch to toggle the levels, rather than fully actuating it. Also, setting it on turbo allows you to instantly get a burst of light. For tactical operations, yes, it would suck the big one - and I would never even consider using it, but for everything else, it suits me just fine.